32 BBY: Bad Business

Ahhh…. Vilmarh Grahak, after Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and Hondo Ohnaka, you’re my fourth favorite scoundrel, and I write that with all sincerity.

This is the third time we’ve come across this Devaronian rascal in Star Wars history, and in typical rouge fashion, he’s still trying work the angles to his own advantage.

In John Ostrander’s tale Bad Business, Vilmarh is saddled with three DUM-series pit droids – payment from Watto for a previous debt.  But the joke’s on Vilmarh, as the DUM droids’ programing “fixes” things to the point of destruction – including the Devaronian’s ship.

All is not lost though, as the story ends with Vilmarh disposing of the droids on the planet Felacat, leaving them with instructions to "fix the planet to death".

What I found most interesting about this source was Shmi Skywalker’s little cameo.  Her short appearance in this story highlighted for me the pain she must be feeling being separated from her son.  It was sad to think of her still laboring on Tatooine without the joy of her only child to brighten her day.  In this tale she’s been ordered by Watto to place the droids on Grahak’s ship.  She dutifully does as she is told and quietly exits the frame.

I really haven’t much else to say about this story.  Besides the little bit of sorrow I felt for Shmi Skywalker the story was funny.  The Felacatian species seemed a little silly, but it worked well as a plot device.  I’m looking forward to seeing more of Vilmarh Grahak – I think he shows up with Quinlan Vos down the line.  What Bad Business shows is that a character like Grahak can carry his own smaller narratives.

For my next series of posts I’m going to delve into some Star Wars RPG material.  The semester is gearing down and I’m going to have a little more time on my hands to get back to what I enjoy doing.   Until then my friends, may the Force be with you.